You have to have the loblolly pines--they are such wonderful trees. And they are trying to grow already, lucky you! If you don't want to obstruct the view, you can't have too many, but I would at least have a few.

Spacing? I think these trees look good as ornamentals if spaced 20 plus feet if in a row, but they can be spaced however you want--25, 40, or whatever. They grow well as single specimen trees.

And as they grow, you can prune off the lower limbs. I would not prune more than the bottom 1/3 of the branches, measuring from the base to the top, so the tree will always have 2/3red live crown. Older trees can often have less crown, but not young rapidly growing trees. This pruning of lower limbs may help your view, but I am not sure from your picture what the elevations and sight lines are.

I am not sure about your other plantings and how they are arranged, but I am sure you can get some landscaping person to come and advise you about how to plant the loblollies so they will not obstruct the growth of other things. Loblollies tend to have shade that will allow the more shade tolerant plants to grow underneath. Some careful and timely pruning can help plants live together.

--Spruce

Dear Spruce:

I appreciate your advice. After an area is clear cut here on the Chesapeake, loblollies grow so close together (often an inch or two apart) that they form an impenitrable wall. Amazingly, they continue to grow under these conditions for years.

I wondered what would happen if they had room to breathe and branch out and how much room to give them. Thanks to you, I know.

We have 5 acres of field behind the house. Hurricane Isabel took down most of the trees, those that remained were leaning. After 3 years of clean up, we have plenty of room for a loblolly grove or two ; - )

Thanks again.